Saturday, December 19, 2009

December 2009 Make and Take



Above is this month's Make & Take project that I designed for the LSS. If you click on the photo, you'll see an enlarged version.

The embossing on the green cardstock was done with a Cuttlebug folder. "Be Merry" and the little tree were stamped with Snag-Em stamps. The ticket is also made with a stamp by Inkadinkadoo. I used small chalk inkpads to carefully ink the parts in the colors I wanted. I swiped the edges of the tag with one of the chalk inkpads. I embellished with red and silver Stickles. I don't know who makes the yarn that I used for the tassle. It was a freebie.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Christmas Thank You card


Our son stayed with friends while my husband and I were out of town, so this is the front of the thank you card I made. It was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, embellished with Stickles, and stamped with a Close to my Heart thank you stamp from the CTMH set called "For Every Occasion."

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

November Make & Take


The background of this simple Thanksgiving card is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The pumpkin is a Cuttlebug duo with the matching die and embossing folder (last fall's release-not sure if they're still available). The stamped saying is from a Hero Arts Thanksgiving set (and another saying from the set was used inside the card). The tiny turkey is by Stampendous. The label die cut the turkey is on is a Spellbinders Nestabilities.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

October Make and Take


I meant to post this before Halloween, but October was a busy month. This was the October 2009 monthly Make & Take project I designed for the scrapbook store.

The stamps I used were by Hampton Arts (Trick or Treat) and Snag 'Em (Happy Halloween with spider). The other sides were also stamped with Art Warehouse (pumpkins, costumes, candy) and another "Happy Halloween" stamp (unknown manufacturer). I used a Nestabilities scalloped circle for the top, and the embossed "Scary" is a punched circle embossed in a seasonal Cuttlebug folder. The box itself, and the scalloped top, were cut with Accu-Cut dies.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Scraplifted Sympathy Card


I don't usually copy someone else's cards or layouts. However, I needed a sympathy card quickly, and I found a beautiful one at SplitcoastStampers that was perfect for what I wanted. Here is a link to the original (which is a little more elegant than mine shown above):

Sympathy card by Lynda Benden at SplitcoastStampers

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Christmas Advent Calendar tags

Here is a list of the "activities" that I used on each of the tags for the advent calendar in the previous entry:

Bake Christmas cookies and give some away.
Set goals for the new year.
Do something kind for someone from church.
Write a note of appreciation to someone who might not expect to be thanked.
Make a list in your journal of several things you are very thankful for.
Mail a special card to one or more family members who live far away.
Set up a nativity and sing "Away in a Manger."
Give a hug to someone in your family.
Take a treat to a neighbor.
Make an ornament for your tree.
Cut out a snowflake and stick it on the window.
Take a picture today (or pose for one).
Talk to a friend.
Call one of your Parents or your Grandparents.
Sing Christmas carols to your neighbors.
Give food or clothes to someone in need.
Make a stocking for Baby Jesus and think of a gift to give to Him.
Say a prayer for our missionaries and soldiers.
Read a fun story about Christmas.
Read the Christmas story from the scriptures.
Watch a Christmas movie as a family.
Take a treat to your home teacher.
Visit someone who is lonely.
Hang up your stockings.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Christmas Advent Calendar



About three years ago, there was an advent calendar in Paper Crafts. This is based on it. Basically, you just use library pockets in rows on two 12x12 sheets of cardstock. Inside each pocket is a tag with a suggestion of something fun to do that day, in the hopes of encouraging the Christmas spirit in your children. I gave this one to my oldest son's family.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Autumn Blessings Side Step Card


It's probably pretty obvious, but one of my favorite sources for cool stamp projects is SplitcoastStampers (SCS). Sometimes a contributor will put the link to their blog where they have additional information or instructions. I had seen Step Cards several times, but when I came across this Side Step Card posted at SCS, I wanted to try it. I ended up using slightly different measurements, because I wanted my steps more even than the original version, but here is the link to a tutorial for the original Side Step Card:

Side Step Card Template and Instructions by Julie Davison

For what it's worth, I don't know any of the people whose blogs/sites I give links to.

As I said, I adapted the card and used slightly different measurements. If you want your steps a bit more even, use the following measurements. With your cardstock in the portrait position, put it in your paper trimmer--NOT the guillotine kind--and line up the left edge with the 2 inch mark. It should also be pushed up against the top edge. You will NOT cut all the way through the paper, but only from the 3 inch mark down to the 7 & 1/2 inch mark (your cardstock should be 8 & 1/2 inches tall).

Now for the fold lines: On the left side, you score from the left side over to the "middle" cut, at the 4 & 1/4 inch mark from the top & bottom edges. On the right side, you score from the "middle" cut to the right edge--measuring UP from the BOTTOM edge, at the 1", 1 & 3/4", 3 & 1/2", 4", and 5 & 1/2".

They're kind of weird measurements, but it did result in fairly even steps. Sorry I don't have a video to show you. I don't know how clear my written directions are.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Halloween Treat Bag #2


When looking for something else, I came across a couple of older punches that I'd forgotten I had: a bare tree and a ghost. I also had a bunch of new Halloween punches that I'd bought at Michael's recently but hadn't yet used. I decided to make another treat bag. It's a simple project, but it gave me a chance to make at least a little something before I obey my conscience and get back to the things I really should be doing.

The ghost punch is by McGill. I don't know who made the tree punch, since there's no name on it that I could see. The small bats are from an EK Success border punch, and the tombstone & fence are Martha Stewart punches. I used the Stampin' Up Word Window punch to make the opening for the "fun size" (manufacturer's code word meaning extremely small) Twix candy bar.

The design for the treat bag is adapted from this tutorial:

Stampin' Academy treat bag

Although definitely "inspired" by this tutorial, mine isn't quite the same. For one thing, I have only guys in my house these days, so I eliminated the ribbon handle. Secondly, I have an extra fold. You can kind of see from the middle and right images how I did mine. Also, instead of using Velcro to close it, I have a half-circle cut with my Coluzzle to make a slot for the top flap to insert into. The half-circle slot is hidden by the tombstone.

One cool thing about the tombstone is that the RIP is embossed when you punch it. You can probably get a better view if you click on the photo to enlarge it.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Creepy Cottage--A Halloween Birdhouse


Sometimes I look through the gallery at SplitcoastStampers. When I find projects that I like, often they'll say that more information can be found at their blog. When I found an adorable birdhouse with a blog link, it led me to Barbara's World of Whimcees, where there was a tutorial, complete with a link to the Birdhouse template. You will need to scroll down a little for the tutorial, but it can be found HERE.

Although there is a link in the tutorial, I didn't really need a tutorial, just the template, which is by Nicole Heady and is found at her blog.

Birdhouse Template

It was very generous of Nicole Heady to share her adorable birdhouse design. Please respect her copyright and remember that it is for personal use only.

I punched a hole in black cardstock and then used a Spellbinder Nestabilities die to cut a scallop around the hole. I used the Martha Stewart spiderweb border punch for the edge of the roof (which I cut longer than suggested on the template). I used another Martha Stewart punch for the broken fence that runs around the birdhouse. I embossed the roof with the Cuttlebug spiderweb embossing folder. I stamped the birdhouse before assembling it. I used dollar stamps, probably all Studio G, that I found at JoAnn Fabrics a couple of weeks or more ago. I looked today, but the ones I used were no longer to be found there.

The birdhouse would hold a ton of Hershey kisses, or gummy worms, or some other sweet. Just be prepared to pour in a whole bunch!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Wedding card


The daughter of a very dear friend got married today. I spent quite a bit of time making the card for her. First I applied alcohol inks onto glossy cardstock using blue, silver, and pearl. Then I used one of the new QuicKutz folders and my Cuttlebug to emboss the lattice design. I got out my stamps by Close to My Heart and my silver embossing powder for the cake and "Now and Forever." The scalloped circle was cut with one of the Spellbinder Nestabilities dies.

I glued tiny rhinestones to each crossing of the latticework that wasn't covered up by the stamped images or ribbon. The photo doesn't do it justice, because the rhinestones kind of look like little black dots or punched holes. Also, you can't really see how pretty it shines, but I was pleased with the final result.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Halloween treat bag


Okay, it's early. I just felt like making something fun for Halloween even if it is almost two months away.

I started with a shopping bag die-cut from Accu-cut, but cut off the handles. Then I used the EK Success bat border punch (that I found clearanced at Michaels recently) around the top edge. After punching the top edge, I added a strip of black cardstock behind so the bats would show up better. I made holes for the ribbon handle using a Stampin' Up slot punch. The spiderweb stamps were mostly Studio G stamps, but one is by Hampton Arts. The Halloween words on the front are a Studio G stamp. The bats and circle are Martha Stewart punches.

It took enough time that I won't be giving these out to Trick or Treaters, but if I were doing a small party, they'd work for favors.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September Make & Take


It's a new month, so I did a new Make & Take for the LSS. I used the Fall words Cuttlebug (CB) embossing folder, the CB leaf die and matching embossing folder, and a Studio G stamp.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Graduation Layout


It's been awhile since I did any actual scrapbooking. In May I started this layout of my daughter's graduation, but I just couldn't figure out what to do to dress it up. I had stamped the graduation background, cut the title and graduation cap, and matted the photos, but it looked incredibly plain. I couldn't find any patterned paper that went well with it to provide variety except this black & white striped paper. I don't know who makes it. I must have thrown away the strip I cut off back in May. On the other side of the paper, it's black with a gray/silvery design. Unfortunately, that side didn't look right. After leaving the layout sitting in a box for 5 months, I pulled it out this morning and decided to try yet again to finish it. I'd pulled it out a few times before and had ended up sticking it back in the box again with no progress made. Today was different, though. I stamped designs on the black & white striped paper, then added some 3D punched flowers, and I was finally happy with it.

The stamps for both background papers were so numerous I couldn't figure out at this point which ones I used. The scrolled/flowered designs on the black & white stripe were mostly by EK Success, but one was by Heidi Grace. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the larger blossoms used in the punched flowers. The tag was made with Coredinations cardstock, but I just inked the embossed punched flowers to try to make them look sort of the same. The embossed Congrats was another Cuttlebug embossing folder. The title and graduation cap cutting files can be found at Scrap Savvy. They are (or were) free cutting files if you belong to one of their membership programs.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Fall Banner



I know banners have been around for awhile, but this is only the second banner I've ever made. I used the Spellbinder Sunflower dies and scalloped square Nestabilies die, and I used the autumn leaf Cuttlebug die & matching embossing folder, and the autumn words embossing folder, along with the Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet for the letters. I don't know who makes the ribbon. It's a simple design, but the cutting and embossing took quite awhile. The banner was created using good ol' die-cuts, chalks, and inks.

You can click on the full banner photo to see a larger image of the completed project. This is probably obvious, but the leaves spell one word, while the banner flags spell another, so together they say, "happy FALL."

I'm planning to do another banner for Halloween, again using die-cuts, but probably incorporating punches and stamps, too.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Backpack Goodie Bag


In the SplitcoastStampers gallery are a bunch of really cute backpack goodie bags. Although there is a template in the gallery somewhere, I made up my own pattern. Mine is a little different from the ones in the gallery there. If you want to see the ones at SCS, try THIS LINK.

It would make a fun little gift for a teacher or bus driver. If you look closely at the twill ribbon straps on the "backpack" you can see the words "Back to School."

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page measurements

I've been playing around with my new Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page sets. If they came with information, it must have gotten thrown out accidentally with the packaging. Or maybe it was on the package, but I can't read small writing anymore.

It helps to cut your cardstock so that the sides have one of the following measurements (inches): 3.25, 5, 6.75, 8.5, 10.25, and 12 inches all work so that the corner and border match up well. Cutting a piece of cardstock to 5x6.75 inches will result in a photo mat that fits a 4x5.75 inch photo. You have to trim just a tiny bit off your 4x6 photo, but not much. For the card in the post just below, I used a 3.25 inch square, which was very easy to get it just right.

The first of the Punch Around the Page punch sets I bought was the spiderweb corner and border that was used for the Halloween card below. However, I also recently found the much coveted loop border and corner set, too, although I had to go to three different Michaels stores to find them.

Eency Weency Spider(s)



I don't care for the creepy, ghouly side of Halloween, but I love the costumes, candy, and light hearted fun part of the holiday. I never allowed my kids to dress like monsters or witches, nor were they interested in those kinds of costumes. Over the years, our family wore Star Trek, Vikings and other historical costumes, Superman, Spiderman, Wolverine, and Batman, a robot, and even a pig with a curly tail.

My kids are grown, but I still like certain aspects of Halloween. I am rather partial to spiders and bats for some unfathomable reason--weird considering I hate real spiders, and I won't go anywhere near bats if I can help it. You won't catch me spelunking.

Cute spiders seem quite popular among the stamps this year, and bats figure prominently in the new punches. I couldn't resist. I pulled out the coupons and hit the sales at the LSS, Michaels, JoAnn's, and AC Moore.

I've never been much of a fan of the Martha Stewart scrapbook lines, but I love her new punch around the page sets. The spiderweb border is part of her new Fall 2009 seasonal punches. The Halloween word stamp was one of the AC Moore Studio G stamps. The spiders and the eek! came from the Studio G stamps at JoAnn Fabrics.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Notecard with punched dimensional flower



This is the August Make & Take for the scrapbook store near me. You layer the punches and bend the petals upward after the glue dries for a 3D look. If you click on the top photo, you can see a close-up of each of the steps (and what punches were used twice) more easily.

Inside the tri-fold card is a punched window, that the recipient of the card can see the stamped message "Just a note" inside. There is room for the sender of the card to write a note.

The embossing was done with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then chalked.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Unmounting rubber stamps and storing them




Top photo: 12x12 cardstock covered with stamped images.
Middle photo: back of the same 12x12 cardstock in page protector, with the stamps clinging to the back of the page protector. You can also see the next "page" of stamped images on the right side in another page protector.
Bottom photo: a page protector that came divided into 6 sections, with Purple Daisy stamps clinging to the back. I cut cardstock to fit each pocket first before stamping it.

I have been collecting rubber stamps for a lot of years. It got to the point that I didn't have room for them all, couldn't easily find what I wanted when I wanted it, and even worse, we were thinking about moving to another state. All the weight of those stamps would add to the moving expenses, which we expected to pay ourselves.

So I decided that if I were going to keep my stamp collection, I would have to unmount my stamps. First I stamped the images onto a piece of cardstock that fit into a page protector or pocket of a page protector. I then slipped the cardstock into the pocket. I cleaned the stamp, removed it from the wood block AND from the foam, then painted the back of the rubber stamp with Aleene's Tack-It-Over-and-Over. Once the glue was dry, I stuck the stamp to the back of the protector that had the cardstock with the image of that stamp.

I use Crop In Style Paper Sticker Binders (CIS PSB), which zip closed and have page protectors with pockets of varying sizes. The photos show regular 12x12 page protectors as well as a page protector divided up into 6 pockets.

My stamps take up far less space, are very quick and easy to look through, as well as easy to take to a crop if I want. I'm using my stamps a lot more these days because it's so easy to find what I want.

The CIS PSB shown in these particular photos holds over 400 stamps. Some are larger, some are very tiny, but it holds a lot of stamps! I store the binder on a bookshelf, UPRIGHT like a book on the shelf, so the stamps don't press on each other.

Unfortunately, CIS PSBs were discontinued. However, a regular 8.5x11 zippered binder could also work if this system of storing stamps appeals to you, or perhaps someone is selling them on ebay. I have enough PSBs for all my stamp storage, including room to add to my collection if I want, so I don't need to worry about it.

I'm more likely to buy acrylic stamps now, but they fit nicely in the PSB pockets, too.

Friday, August 14, 2009

3D Watering Can


I found the template for this 3D watering can at Splitcoast Stampers. The link for it is HERE.

I used the new Martha Stewart loop border punch on the bottom of the watering can. I grabbed some flower punches from my stash of tools to make the layered blossoms. Mine isn't nearly as fancy as the one shown in the link, but it was fun to make.

The card was made using a very old Stampin' Up stamp from a special set called Gifted Greetings.

I filled the watering can with Hershey kisses to give to a friend. Despite its small size, the watering can can hold about half a bag of kisses!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Thinking Inking Project from Week 6


This card was created using Hero Arts stamps (little girl with sunflowers and the fence with birdhouse) that I've had for a long, long time. I don't know if they still make them anymore. The "Just a Note" stamp is by Eureka. I used Stickles to add a little accent to the colored stamped images, although you can only see it if you click on the image and look closely at the enlarged version. It can be seen better in person. The embossed background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The punched flower in the lower left corner is a Stampin' Up punch with a flower button on top.

The top image is the front of the card, and the image below it is the inside of the card. The inside image is not really as large as it appears here.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Front & Back stamps











I used to buy a lot of stamps at a stamp store that eventually went out of business. Among my most favorite stamps were some by a company named Art Impressions. They have special stamps that I've never seen elsewhere: front and back stamps that go together. I'd have bought a lot more if I'd been able to afford it. As it is, I probably spent more than I should have, but the above images were made from 4 of their front and back stamps. The windows are sold as two separate stamps, but the little girl is a set of two. I looked on the internet and found that Art Impressions is still in business, and they still sell these stamps along with a lot of fun others. You can find them in the "Oldies" section of the Art Impressions online catalogue. I may have to buy some more, especially since they sell them unmounted, too.

This is the front and inside front of a card that I'm planning to send to a friend. The rest of the card is plain, but I used clear plastic for the window itself, so you can see through it from the front of the card, and also from the inside of the card looking out. I haven't decided how I'm going to do the inside of the card where the message should go. I want the recipient to be able to see something through the window besides a saying.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

No Great Things Tag


I used Ranger alcohol inks, Fancy Pants and CTMH stamps to do this tag. I cut the tag from a plastic report cover using a Sizzix die. The rhinestone flower is from CTMH.

I used Stream and Silver metallic inks on the tag. It is a much more brilliant color than shows in the scan, the silver especially gives it a lovely sheen.

This was done for the Thinking Inking class, week 5 part 2.

For those who haven't yet found this class, here is a link to the video for this part:

Thinking Inking video week 5 part 2

I have to admit, I'd never been interested in alcohol inks before this class, but you can get some beautiful effects with them.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Thinking Inking Project from Week 5


I skipped Weeks 2 through 4, since I already started late. I've done heat embossing, anyway (week 2), and I'm not really as interested in Paint Dabbers (tried 'em, didn't like 'em) or crackle paint (week 4). This week (5) is using alcohol inks. I'd never used them before this class. They really can give a very pretty coloring to glossy surfaces, although to get the effect I liked, I really had to play with it a bit.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Thinking Inking Project from Week 1


I finally tried the techniques shown in the first week of the Thinking Inking class at Two Peas in a Bucket. The above card front is my project. I used Ranger Inks, Cuttlebug embossing folder, a Spellbinder scalloped square Nestabilities die, a Sizzix die (tag), Glimmer Screen for the mask (Tattered Angels), Purple Daisy Dragonfly stamp, EK Success Dragonfly punch, and Perfect Pearls (they don't show well in the scan, but they added a very pretty shimmer). I think the layered flowers are both Prima, but I'm not sure.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Circle Pop Out Card



At GASC, I found some fun card templates sold by Let's Party Hearty (www.letspartyhearty.com). Although I have seen a couple of the template designs available for free on the internet--I bought templates for unusual cards that I had never seen before. One of them was for a circle pop out card. It's a little like a swing card, and a little like a tri-fold shutter card. It's shown above.

Most of the stamps I used to make this card were by CTMH. I don't know who makes the circle geometric frame design. The punched borders were an Ionic Punch. I found the Ionic Punch Border system at last year's GASC at the Purple Daisies booth, although they aren't the only ones to carry it. I used Distress Stickles to accent the capital "T" in the stamped middle panel.

The actual card is a vivid aqua kind of blue. For some reason when it uploaded, the color went weird and looks yellow. I guess Blogger is color blind or something.

Daisy Edgeabilities card makeover




The card on top was the original version. I wanted to make a card for a friend who was long overdue for a letter. It was a rush job, obviously. I wasn't happy with it, so I didn't get around to writing in it or sending it. I finally decided to do a makeover on it, which is the image underneath. I used Versamark watermark ink to create a simple background pattern on the plain cardstock with a tiny Stampin' Up stamp that was discontinued years ago. I'm not sure how well the embossing shows up in the photo, but I used the Spellbinders Daisy Edgeabilities die to create the flower clusters on this card. I used Spellbingers Labels Nestabilities dies (not sure which, maybe #4) to create mats for the big flower cluster and the saying. The saying is from the CTMH Follow Your Dreams set. The front says "We can do no great things..." and inside it says, "Only small things with great love." (Mother Theresa) I moved the single small flower from the front of the card to the inside. I could probably dress it up more, but at least it's not quite so plain as it was originally.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Another simple card



I made this card for a talented friend who is having a rough time. The background was stamped with Versamark watermark ink with Botanicals acrylic stamps by Hot Off the Press. The saying on the front of the card is a CTMH stamp. The saying on the inside is from Stampers Anonymous. It's actually a single stamp, but I decided to use it in two parts. The flower buttons were found at Michaels craft store, but I don't have the package that says who makes them.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

GASC 2009


This is the Make & Take project I designed for the LSS table at the Great American Scrapbook Convention (GASC) which was yesterday and today. I had to cut 350 tags, and cut and emboss 350 butterflies in preparation for it. I also sat at the table for a good part of both days, where we taught the customers how to do chalk popping (the softer colored designs on the tag) with Versamark watermark ink and chalks.

The black dots are Stickles, which many customers had never used. The butterflies are cut from the Core'dinations cardstock. I used the Cuttlebug butterfly die, but instead of the embossing folders that came with that die, I used a brocade style embossing folder (also by Cuttlebug) to emboss them. The stamp set was by Inque Boutique, and is the Mini Escape set released last year. It's a fun and versatile set, though.

I love the GASC, but I always spend too much money and come home exhausted after, even though all I do is some shopping and demonstrating techniques at the Make & Take table.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Lighthouse Father's Day Card


I raided my stash to make this Father's Day card for my dear husband. He loves the beach, so I found papers by Reminisce (2008 release) and some metal charms. I'm not sure who made all the charms. The Lighthouse might be Making Memories, no idea who made the seashell, but the metal Love plate and heart brads are JoAnn Fabrics brand. Stickers by Jolee's. Stamps by CTMH, various sets. Maybe I'll look them up later.

This is the same basic Tri-fold Shutter card design that was used for the Get Well card shown previously in my blog (try the next "page" of entries). A link to a tutorial on how to make a Tri-fold Shutter card was given in that earlier blog entry.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Mix & Match stamping


Close to my Heart (CTMH) and Stampin' Up (SU) are competitors in the home party stamp world. I'm not a rep for either of them, and I buy from both companies. I love stamps, and have quite a serious collection of both rubber and acrylic stamps.

I used a CTMH acrylic stamp for the cowboy on the bucking bronco, from their "Yeehaw!" stamp set. All the rest of the stamps are from a set that was discontinued long ago by SU. I don't know the name for certain, but it might have been "Happy Trails" or something like that.

If stamps seem to go together, I use them together, whether or not they are supposed to.

Once again, I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities set for the center die-cuts.

This is a get well card I made for someone who has had a really difficult time. The top image is the front of the card, and the bottom image is the inside of the card. The message inside was typed on the computer, using the Rope font (a free font you can find at www.dafont.com).

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Topiary made with scrapbook products


When I was in Utah a little over a year ago, I visited the local scrapbook stores. One of them, located at the shopping center of I-215 and Redwood Road (sorry, don't remember the name of the store) had these topiaries. You used a flower Whale of a Punch and any two sided scrapbook paper that you liked. The topiary base can be found at JoAnn Fabrics. They have a double topiary and a single topiary. The double topiary takes much longer to make. Even the single topiary takes about 3 hours. You need 4 sheets of the double sided paper, and small pins to fasten the paper to the topiary styrofoam ball.

I made this particular topiary for a relative.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Yeehaw! Surprise Pop-Up card


I guess it's because I'm a Western gal originally, but I love cowboy stuff. The above card was made with cowboy related stamps from the following CTMH sets: Yeehaw, Genuine Country, and Be Happy. I also used a Nestabilities die by Spellbinder.

This is another Surprise Pop-Up card like the one a little further down. The link for a tutorial on how to make this type card is in that post (3rd one down from this one).

Like my first attempt at making this type card, I didn't use the measurements given in the tutorial. I was trying to make the card fit a particular size envelope. Unfortunately, I forgot that the cowboy hat was going to poke up too high, so my card won't fit the envelope after all. I'll have to make my own envelope to fit it.

Sorry about the shadow in the photo from the flash. It make it a little hard to read the pull-out tag at the top. The saying in the tag says, "There's a little cowboy in all of us." (Louis L'Amour)

Simple Sympathy Card


This card was made awhile ago, and I have no idea who makes the paper. The saying in the center is from a CTMH set called "Come Unto Me." The dragonfly punch is Whale of a Punch (by EK Success?), and the dragonfly stamp is by Purple Daisy. I found the Purple Daisy stamps at GASC a couple of years ago. One of the things I like about them is that they are made to fit the Whale of a Punches. You stamp your cardstock, then hold the corresponding punch upside down over your stamped design, line up the design so it falls within the punch outline, and punch. Simple and easy. Besides the dragonfly, I bought a couple of their butterfly stamps, leaf, and flower stamps. They all have matching punches. Purple Daisy has other stamps, too, some scenic, some sayings, some religious. They are all wood mounted rubber stamps in a bright purple color!

I'll be looking for their booth at GASC again this year to see if they have any other new stamps. I rarely buy wood mounted stamps anymore, but I make an exception for this company.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Sculpting Foam and Sculpey mold


This is a simple card that I did to send to someone going through chemo. It's also my first real use of the Sculpting Foam by CTMH. I pressed the foam into an alphabet tiles mold by Sculpey. I think I found the mold at JoAnn Fabrics, but it can probably be found most places that sell Sculpey products.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Surprise Pop Up card


The directions on how to make this card can be found at SplitcoastStampers:

Surprise Pop-Up Card Tutorial

I didn't follow the directions exactly. I just kind of winged it as to measurements, and a couple other little things, but it's the same basic card.

The card sentiment is from the CTMH "Follow Your Dreams" acrylic set. The single pansy is from Rubber Stampede, and the pansy cluster stamp is by Comotion. The latter stamps are both rubber stamps instead of acrylic.

I used the Nestabilities Labels One dies to cut the background and mat for the single stamped pansy. It definitely works best to cut and emboss it first, then stamp it. I tried it the other way first and ruined it.

I have no idea who made the patterned paper. It's an older scrap I had.

It's probably more than obvious, but you pull the tag upward to see the sentiment. Another name for this style of card is "Garage Door Pop-Up Card." It does sort of make one think of a garage door. I have absolutely no idea who came up with the original template for this card, but my hat's off to whoever it was. It's a very creative idea for a card.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Another simple card



I just received my CTMH (Close to my Heart) order from my rep, and decided to make this little card with the CTMH "It's a Zoo" set. The die cuts were made with the Spellbinder Nestabilities Label dies, and I used Cuttlebug embossing folders. The top image is the card front, and the one below it is the message inside the card.

The words on the stamp were very close together, but I wanted a different color for the "Zoo" word. I inked it, then used a baby wipe to clean off ink from the word I didn't want to stamp in that color. Then I stamped it. I cleaned it completely with the baby wipe again, inked it with the second color, used the baby wipe to clean off the other words, and stamped Zoo. I did the same thing to stamp the word "Wild" since it actually was the phrase "Wild & crazy" and would have taken up too much space on the card front. Using just "Wild" let me punch it out with a rectangular window punch. It's one of those easy squeeze punches, but I don't remember who makes them.

Using acrylics makes it really easy to see where you're stamping, so it lines up the way it should. Otherwise I would have had a hard time getting "Zoo" placed just right in the stamped phrase. I really love the CTMH acrylics.

I found my rep through the CTMH website long ago. She said I was the only referral through the site that she ever got over several years time period. We became friends, although it was a bit of a distance to drive. I suspect there are reps closer driving time, but they didn't pay the fee to be listed in the site CTMH dealer finder. My rep eventually moved to another state, but I still order through her instead of finding someone closer. She's my friend now. Why would I order from anyone else?

Friday, May 29, 2009

May Make & Take


This tag & pocket were the Make and Take project for early May. We still have a bunch of pockets left from last year's GASC, so occasionally I work them into a Make & Take. Since I was getting ready to leave town, it seemed a good time to use the pockets so I'd have less to cut.

I embossed the pockets with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, one of my favorite things to do.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Spring Make & Take #2


I know I've said this before, but I love my Cuttlebug. The flower is a Cuttlebug die, and the Sizzix tag, butterfly punch and dark green strip of cardstock were all embossed with different Cuttlebug embossing folders. I used chalk ink to brush across the raised design of the tag and butterfly to highlight the embossing.

Spring Make and Take #1


The above is one of the projects I designed for the LSS in either February or March of this year. I just discovered it in a bag when I was tidying up, along with another recent project, so I figured I'd post them.

The file folder is made the same way as the Lighthouse file folder further down (Sizzix die). The pocket on the file folder is one of the Sizzix tags, but with the pointy part folded down. I used a scalloped corner to punch (EK Success, maybe?) the piece glued on top of the folded triangular part of the pocket. The Frolic word stamp was from a Technique Tuesday small winter set (old, old, old), the swirly stamp is probably by Daisy Bucket, but might be Snag-Em. Not sure who makes the Playful button stamp or the little phrase stamped on the pocket. The unknowns were among the tools found at the LSS. The stamped tag that goes into the pocket is by Prima Marketing. Not sure who makes the paper, either.

I'm not sure what happened to the ribbon that was on the stamped tag. It disappeared before the sample came home, so I just used craft thread to replace the missing ribbon.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tri-fold Shutter Card with link to tutorial


A friend send me a link to an awesome card tutorial. I couldn't wait to give it a try. Another dear friend of mine has been having horrible health problems, so I made the above card for her. The left image shows the card closed, the right image shows it open.

The link to the tutorial: Tri-fold Shutter Card

You'll notice on the blog where you find the tutorial that she uses a Score-Pal. I saw so many being used in tutorials that I broke down and bought one when I saw it at the LSS.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Recipe Lunch Tin


I like to cook, although I don't play in my kitchen as much as I ought to considering the collection of kitchen gadgets I've got. I also like to collect recipes.

In December of 2007 I taught a recipe lunch tin project. I used the French Kitchen line from Reminisce. It was a lot of fun to make. We also did a Christmas cookie & recipe exchange.

This is a collage showing photos of the different parts of the lunch tin. I know it's not the best photography and piecing job, but it gives you an idea of how the recipe tin turned out, anyway.

GASC 2008 Make & Take


GASC stands for Great American Scrapbook Convention. The LSS had a Make & Take table, which I staffed for two full days, with only occasional spelling off. I did have some help, or I would have gone crazy. Staffing it alone was especially challenging, since the table was in the hallway near the classes. When the classes got out, large numbers of scrappers stopped by the table. Trying to help a big group all by myself was a bit much. Fortunately, I wasn't alone at the table most of the time.

I designed the project, and was very happy with it. To punch a hole in a tag pocket, then stamp right through it so you could be sure of seeing your phrase on the tag inside the pocket, is not a commonly used technique. At least most of the ladies who did the project had never tried it before. The back of the tag could be used for hidden journaling. The clam shell is a Sizzix die, the whelk shell is a QuicKutz die, and the pocket is by Accu-cut. The tag itself is just a rectangle with two of the corners rounded.

"Beach" and flip-flop stamps are by Snag-Em. The small words are from an Inque Boutique stamp set. And yes, the stamping job isn't the best. Once again, my originals disappeared sometime during the two days, and were replaced by ones stamped by someone else. I really do stamp more carefully than this!

I'll also be doing the Make & Take again for the LSS at GASC Chantilly 2009. I've already designed the project. It's very different from the 2008 project, and it teaches different techniques. I'll post a picture of it after the convention.

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